Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Written by Kyle Slagley

On the way to work yesterday I heard a news story about
Lenovo’s IdeaCentre Horizon Table PC. If you just re-read that sentence while
simultaneously thinking or saying “Huh?” trust me, you’re not alone. Though not
much was heard about this gadget when it was being developed, it’s basically a
tablet computer that can be laid down on a tabletop and used by up to five
people at the same time.

At 27 inches and a larger version on the way, the tablet is
about the same size as a small flatscreen television. Since it’s able to handle
multiple users at once, some bloggers are speculating that it may bring back
the golden days when a family actually gathers around a table to interact
together like real people, instead of texting “Plz pass the potatoes kthx :)”

As I listened to this news story, I realized it was yet
another classic example of fictional-futuristic technology made real. I was
reminded of a scene in the James
Bond movieQuantum
of Solace, when M, James, and M’s assistant Tanner use a large touchscreen
table to discuss… well, spy stuff. While Quantum
of Solace isn’t an old movie, it
got me thinking about all the technology introduced in “old” sci-fi that has
since become real, normal, everyday technology. Let’s explore some of these
no-longer-futurist technologies, shall we?

The Internet – Let’s face it, you are addicted to the Internet.
I, too, am addicted to the Internet. I Internet when I wake up, at work, at
home, and in the middle of the night when I can’t sleep. You’re Internetting
right now! Believe it or not, this simultaneously sinister yet magical
connective web of computing devices was once an idea that originated in science
fiction. The novel that really detailed the Internet the way we know it today
was Neuromancer
by William
Gibson. Gibson’s novel put the ‘cyberpunk’ sci-fi subgenre on the map in
1984 and was the first book to win the sci-fi “Triple Crown”: the Hugo Award, the
Nebula Award, and the Philip K. Dick Award. Remember what computers were like
in 1984? The Internet was a freaky-futurist idea back then.

Android robots – “Droids” have been a staple in sci-fi since
before sci-fi was even a genre. Lost
in Space, Star
Wars, Star
Trek, Fahrenheit
451, The
Jetsons – droids in every single one of them. The book commonly credited
with coining the word ‘android’ was published in 1886! Fast-forward to today,
and the Defense Department is creating robots that can catch their balance and
decide on their own whether to step on or around something. First, the decision
whether to step over or around Mr. Whiskers; tomorrow, the world…

Indestructable metal (aka Adamantium) – X-Men
is futurist in a lot of ways - mainly that whole mutated-genes-that-equal-superpowers
thing. If you thought Wolverine’s
indestructible claws were impossible, though, better think again. Modumetal,
made by a company of the same name, is lighter and stronger than steel and as
close to indestructible as we’ve got. I’ve read the explanation on the company website.
It’s got a lot of big science-y words that I don’t understand, but let’s just
say these guys are closer to Adamantium than ever. The weird thing about
Modumetal? Parts aren’t manufactured, they’re “grown.”

Auto-drive cars – We saw this back in 2002 with Minority
Report, and we saw it again in I,
Robot: cars that drive themselves at high speeds on the freeway and take
you exactly where you want to go. While we’re not exactly there yet, we do have
cars that can parallel park themselves, cars that beep at you when you’re about
to back into something, and cars that yell at you to wake up if you’re falling
asleep at the wheel. Cars that actually do drive themselves are currently in
testing. Cars that develop road rage are presumably the next step.

About Me

Followers

Midwest Tape is a full service DVD, music CD, and audiobook distributor,conducting business exclusively with public libraries since 1989.
Because customer service is our top priority, we’ve launched News and Views, a blog dedicated to presenting you with newsworthy information and updates. You can always access our blog through the Midwest Tape homepage, or you can subscribe to News and Views through our RSS Feed.
So stay tuned for upcoming posts. We look forward to your comments!